Loom



June 13, 1944. J. o. HUNT LOOM Filed Nov. 2, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Wawy ATTORNEY.

June 13, 1944,

J. O. HUNT 4 LOOM 3 Sheecs--Sheefl 2 Filed NOV- 2. 1945 A TTORNE YS J. O. HUNT June 13, 1944.

LOOM

s sheets-sheet s Filed NOV. 2, 1943 Q; TOR.

ATTORNEYS Patented June 13, 1944 LOOM John o. nunc, Greenville, s. o., signor to Mountain City Foundry and Machine Co.,

Greenville, S. `Carolina.

C., a corporation of South Application November 2, 1943, Serial No. 508,669

Claims. v(Ci. 139-1)- This invention relates to looms for weaving fabrics and is concerned more particularly with a novel loom frame structure on which the moving parts of the loom are mounted. The new structure is more rigid than that of prior similar looms and thus provides better support for the moving parts and reduces the likelihood of the parts getting out -of proper adjustment. A loom constructed in accordance with the invention can,

accordingly, be operated at higher speeds and` with less idle time for adjustments and repairs than similar looms as built heretofore.

The novel features of loom frame construction which constitute the invention can be employed in the building of new looms and can also be readily incorporated in certain looms now in use by the addition of a few simple parts. Such converted looms then aiord all the advantages of new looms containing the new frame structure.

At the present time, there are in use in this country many thousands of looms of which the frame comprises a pair of sides connected at their upper ends by an arch connection and a breast beam and near their lower ends by front and back girts, which are in turn connected by a pair of middle girts. In such looms, the lay is operated by a pair of arms connected to cranks on a. crank shaft mounted in bearings on the sides and a cam shaft is mounted below the crank shaft in bearings on the sides. The cam shaft carried a pick cam near each end inwardly from and adjacent to each cam shaft bearing and each pick cam is engaged by a pick ball on a pick shaft mounted on the adjacent side, each pick shaft being connected to one of the picker sticks. Each pick ball and its cam lies below va crank on the crank shaft and, during the operation of the loom, each pick ball is raised abruptly by its cam whenever the pick shaft carrying the ball is to actuate its picker stick to throw the shuttle through the shed.

In looms of the construction described, the frame structure, comprising the sides connected at their upper ends by the arch connection and breast beam and at their lower ends by the front and back girts, is far from rigid and vibrates severely during operation. The moving parts of the loom are, accordingly, subject to misalignment and wear and the loom requires frequent adjustment and repair to keep it operating properly. As the vibration of the frame with its harmful consequences increases with the speed of the loom, it is necessary to place a limit on the loom speed in order that the time that the loom is idle and undergoing adjustment or repair may be kept within reasonable bounds and, at present,

such looms are not operated ordinarily in excess of 160 picks per minute.

The present invention is directed to the provision of a novel frame structure and mounting for the moving parts of a loom which is stronger and more rigid than the prior frame above described. The new structure includes the features of the former frame together with .additional strengthening and stiffening means and those added elements are of such construction that they can be readily incorporated in looms having frames of the former type. A loom having` the new frame can be operated at speeds of 180 picks per minute and more and, at such speeds, it functions with less idle time for adjustment and repair than prior similar looms operating at the lower speed. The use of the frame of the invention, accordingly, greatly increases the loom output and reduces the cost of manufacture.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be made to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a. sectional view on the line I-i of Fig. 2 showing a loom equipped with the new frame and with certain of the usual parts omitted;

Fig. 2 is a sectional View ofthe loom on the line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of one of the structural members of the new frame; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

The loom illustrated in the drawings includes the frame of the invention and this frame comprises a pair of sides ill having feet lila resting on the floor. The sides are connected at their upper ends by an arch connection il bolted to the respective sides about midway between the front and rear ends of the frame and the upper ends of the sides are connected near the front end of the frame by the breast beam l2, which is bolted to the sides. Near their lower ends, the sides are connected by a front girt I3 and a back girt i4 bolted in place and connected by right-hand and left-hand middle girts i5 and i6, respectively.

A crank shaft il is mounted in bearings i8 and I9 on the sides i0 and this shaft has cranksv 20 at its ends lying inward from and adjacent to the bearings. The cranks are connected by arms 2| to swords 22 supporting a lay, which is swung by the arms in the usual way to beat up each pick laid on the shuttle. Mounted in bearings 23, 24 in the sides below crank shaft Il is a cam 2 shaft 25, which is 4provided near its ends with pick cams 28. Through gearing, the cam shaft drives shaft 21 carrying cams 28 for operating treadles 29 'connected to heddle frames 30 supported on the arch connection il for up and down movement.

vA pick shaft 3| is mounted for rocking movement on the outside of each side III and eac-h pick shaft is provided with a pick ball 32 which rests upon and is actuated by one of the pick cams 26. Each pick shaft is provided with a pick arm 33 connected to a picker stick by a strap and other standard parts. 'During the operation of the loom, the cam shaft operates at half the speed of the crank shaft and once per half revolution of the cam shaft, one of the pick cams causes its pick ball to be forced abruptly upward to rock the associated pick shaft and move the picker stick connected thereto to throw the shuttle across the shed.

Connecting the sides between the crank and cam shafts is a spreader 34 which, in the construction shown, is a member of inverted U- shape cross-section formed at its ends with spac-ed feet 34 which are bolted to the respective sides. Preferably, the feet 3i are connected lby a plate 35 lying in contact with the adjacent side, so that at each end of the spreader, there'is an opening 36 extending through it between the feet. For strengthening purposes, this opening may be partially closed by a web 36. The openings at the ends of the spreader are so placed as to receive the cranks 20 and pick balls 32, as the latter move during operation of the loom, and the spreader may, accordingly, beinstalled without alteration of the positions of the crank and cam shafts or-interference with the operation of the cranks and pick halls. The formation of the spreader with the spaced feet at its ends bolted to the sides a considerable distance apart increases the stiffening effect of the spreader.

'I'he spreader not only stiffens the frame' but also provides a mounting for additional bearings 31 for the crank shaft, these bearings being secured to the top of the central portion of the spreader and lying close to the cranks 20 and inwardly therefrom. If desired, the spreader may also be employed to provide additional bearings for the cam shaft and, for this purpose, a pair of connections 38 are secured to the spreader and to the right and left-hand middle girts i5 and I6. Each connection 3B is formed with a seat 39 for a bearing 40 for the cam shaft.

The loom frame equipped With the new spread' er is much more rigid than prior frames and the spreader and the connections 38 provide means for installing additional bearings for the crank and cam shafts, respectively. In prior looms of the same general construction but without the spreader, the space between the two shafts is so limited that an ordinary girt cannot be installed in that space to connect the sides, because such a girtwould interfere with the operation of the cranks and pick balls. 'I'he spreader constructed with the spaced feet at each end provides room between the feet for the cranks and pick balls and, since the feet at each end of the spreader are connected to a side at a relatively wide spacing, the stiffening and strengthening effect of the spreader is much greater than that afforded by an ordinary girt. The installation of the spreader and the connections providing the supports for additional bearings for the cam shaft is relatively simple and the spreader and connections are so constructed as not to interfere with other parts of the loom. The spreader and connections can, accordingly, be installed in looms now in use or in new looms under construction. In both cases, the loom frame structure is of such strength and rigidity as to permit a substantial increase in loom speed and, at the same time, the periods during which the loom is idle for adjustment and repairs are materially reduced.

I claim: y

1. In a loom having a lay and a pair of picker sticks, the combination of a pair of sides, means connecting the sides at the front and at the back, a crank shaft mounted at its ends for rotation in bearings on the sides and having a crank at each end lying inward from and adjacent to one of said bearings, crank arms mounted on the cranks for connecting the cranks to the lay, a cam shaft mounted at its ends for rotation in bearings on the sides, the cam shaft lying beneath the crank shaft, a pick cam at each end of the cam shaft and beneath one of the cranks, a pick shaft mounted on each side and having an arm connectable to a picker stick and a pick ball resting on the adjacent cam, and a spreader connecting the sides and lying between the crank and cam shafts, the spreader having openings near its ends to receive the adjacent crank and pick ball as they are moved during operation.

2. In a loom having a lay and a pair'of pickerv sticks, the combination of a pair of sides, means connecting the sides at the front and at the back,v

cam shaft mounted at its ends for rotation inv bearings on the sides, the cam shaft lying beneath the crank shaft, a pick cam at each end of the cam shaft and beneath one of the cranks,v a pick shaft mounted on each side and having an arm connectable to a picker stick and a pick ball resting on the adjacent cam, a spreader connecting the sides and lying between the crank and cam shafts, the spreader having openings near its ends to receive the adjacent crank and pick ball as they are moved during operation, and bearings for the crank shaft mounted on the spreader inward from the openings therethrough.

3. 'In a loom having a lay and a pair of picker sticks, the combination of a pair of sides, a breast beam connecting the upper parts of the sides, front and back girts connecting the sides near the bottoms thereof, girt means connecting the front and back girts between the sides, a crank shaft mounted at its ends for rotation in bearings on the sides and having a crank at each end lying inward from and adjacent to one of said bearings,v crank arms mounted on the cranks for connecting the cranks to the lay, a cam shaft mounted at its ends for rotation in bearings on the sides, the cam shaft lying beneath the crank shaft, a pick cam at each end of the cam shaft and beneath one'of the cranks, a pick shaft mounted on each side and having an arm connectable to a picker stick and a pick ball resting -on the adjacent cam, a spreader connecting the sides and lying between the crank and cam shafts, the spreader having openings near its ends to receive the adjacent crank and pick ball as they are moved during operation, bearings for the crank shaft mounted on the spreader inward from the openings therethrough, means connectf ing the spreader and the girt means connecting the front and back girts, and at least one bearing for the cam shaft carried by the connecting means between the spreader and the girt means connecting the front and back girts.

4. In a loom having a lay and a pair of picker sticks, the combination of a pair of sides, means connecting the sides at the front and at the back, a crank shaft mounted at its ends for rotation in bearings on the sides and having a crank at each end lying inward from and adjacent to one of said bearings, crank arms mounted on the cranks for connecting the cranks to the lay, a cam shaft mounted at its ends for rotation in bearings on the sides, the cam shaft lying beneath the crank shaft, a pick cam at each 'end of the cam'shaft and beneath one of the cranks, a pick shaft mounted on each side and having an arm connectable to a picker stick and a pick ball resting on the adjacent cam, a spreader extending from one side to the other and lying between the crank and cam shafts, the spreader having spaced feet at each end with the feet connected to the adjacent side at spaced points, the space between the feet receiving the adjacent crank and pick ball as-the latter are operated, and bearings for the crank shaft mounted on the spreader inward from and adjacent to the respective cranks.

5. In a loom having a lay and a pair of picker` sticks, the combination of a pair of sides, means connecting the sides at the front and at the back, a crank shaft mounted at its ends for rotation in bearings on the sides and having a crank at each end lying inward from and adjacent to one of ,said bearings, crank arms mounted on the cranks for connecting the cranks to the lay, a cam shaft mounted at its ends for rotation in bearings on the sides, the cam shaft lying beneath the crank shaft, a pick cam at each end of the cam shaft `and beneath one of the cranks, a pick shaft.mounted on each side and having an arm connectable to a picker stick and a pick ball resting on the adjacent cam, and a spreader lying between the crank and cam shafts and including a member of U-section having a pair of spaced feet at each end connected to oneof the sides, the space between the feet of each pair being in position to receive the adjacent crank and pick ball as the latter move during operation.

6. In a loom having a lay and a pair of picker sticks, the combination of a pair of sides, means connecting the sides at the front and at the back, a crank shaft mounted at its ends for rotation in bearings on the sides and having aI crank at each end lying inward from and adjacent to one of said bearings, crank arms mounted on the cranks for connecting the cranks to the lay, a cam shaft mounted at its ends for rotation in bearings on the sides, the cam shaft lying beneath the crank shaft, a pick cam at each end of the cam shaft and beneath one of the cranks, a pick shaft mounted on each side and having` an arm connectable to a picker stick and a pick ball resting on the adjacent cam, and a spreader lying between the crank and cam shafts and including a flat-topped member of U-section having a pair of spaced feet at each end connected to one of the sides, the space between the feet of each pair being in position to receive the adjacent crank and pick ball as the latter move 'during operation.

connecting the sides near the bottoms thereof, middle girts connecting the front and back girts, a crank shaft mounted at its ends for rotation in bearings on the sides and Ihaving a crank at each end lying inward from and adjacent to one of said bearings, crank arms mounted on the cranks for Iconnecting the cranks to the lay, a cam shaft mounted at its ends for rotation in bearings on the sides, the cam shaft lying beneath the crank shaft, a pick cam at each end of the cam shaft and beneath one of the cranks, al pick shaft mounted on each side and having an arm connectable to a picker stick and a pick ball resting on the adjacent cam, a spreader connecting the sides and lying between the crank and cam shafts, the spreader having openings near its ends to receive the adjacent crank and pick ball as they are moved during operation, bearings for the crank shaft mounted on the spreader inward from the openings therethrough, members connecting the spreader and the middle girts, and bearings for the cam shaft mounted on said members.

8. In a loom having a pair of 'sides connected at their upper ends by an arch connection and a breast beam and near their lower ends by front and back girts, middle girts connecting the front and back girts, a crank shaft mounted in bearings on the sides and having cranks lying inward from and adjacent the bearings, a cam shaft below the crank shaft and mounted in bearings ,on the sides, the cam shaft having a pick cam near each end lying inward from the adjacent bearing, a pick shaft mounted in bearings on each side and a pick ball on each pick shaft resting on the adjacent cam, a spreader connecting the sides and lying between the cankand cam shafts, the spreader having openings at its ends in which the adjacent crank and pick ball are received as they move during operation.

9. In a loom having a pair of sides connected at their upper ends by an arch connection and a breast beam and near their lower ends by front and' back girts, middle girts connecting the front and back girts, a crank shaft mounted in bearings on the sides and having cranks lying inward from and adjacent the bearings, a cam' shaft below the crank shaft and mounted in bearings on the sides, the cam shaft having a pick cam near each end lying inward from the adjacent bearing, a pic shaft mounted in bearings on each side and a pick ball on each pick shaft resting on the adjacent cam, a spreader connecting the sides and lying between the crank and cam shafts, the spreader having a pair of spaced feet at each ,end connected to one of the sides, the space between the feet of each pair receiving the adjacent crank and pick ball as they move during operation, and bearings for the crank shaft mounted on the spreader inward from its ends.

10. In a loom having a pair of sides connected at their upper ends ,by an arch connection and a breast beam and near their lower ends by front and back girts, middle girts connecting the front and back girts, a crank shaft mounted in bearings on the sides and having cranks lying inward from and adjacent the bearings, a cam shaft be- 7. In a loom having a lay and a pair of picker I side and a pick ball on each pick shaft resting on the adjacent cam, a spreader connecting the sides and lying between the crank and cam shafts, the spreader having a pair of spaced feet at each end connected to one of the sides, the space between the feet of each pair receiving the adjacent crank and pick ball as they move during operation, bearings for the crank shaft mounted on the spreader inward from its ends, members con- 4 necting the spreader and the middle girts, and bearings for the cam shaft carried by the members.

11. In a loom having a lay and a pair of picker sticks, the combination of a pair of sides, means connecting the sides at the front and at the back, a crank shaft mounted at its ends for rotation in bearings on the sides and having a crank at each end lying inward from and adjacent one of said bearings, crank arms mounted on the cranks for connecting the cranks to the lay, a cam shaft mounted at its ends for rotation in bearings on the sides, the cam shaft lying beneath the crank shaft, a pick cam at each end of the cam shaft and beneath -one of the cranks, a pick shaft mounted on each side and having an arm connectable to a picker stick and a pick ball resting on the adjacent cam, and a generally horizontally extending spreader connecting the sides and lying between the crank and cam shafts, the spreader having openings near its ends to receive the adjacent crank and pick ball as they are moved during operation.

l2. In a loom having a lay and a pair of picker sticks, the combination of a pair of sides, means connecting the sides at the front and at the back, a crank shaft mounted at its ends for rotation in ,bearings on the sides and having a crank at each end lying inward from and adjacent one of said bearings, crank arms mounted on the cranks for connecting the cranks to the lay, a cam shaft mounted at its ends for rotation in bearings on the sides, the cam shaft lying beneath the crank shaft, a pick cam at each end of the cam shaft and beneath one of the cranks, a pick shaft mounted on each side and having an arm connectable to a picker stick and a pick ball resting on the adjacent cam, and a spreader connecting the sides and lying between the crank and cam shafts, the spreader having offset parts at each end lying out of the paths of movement of the pick ball and the crank and connected to the,

adjacent side at spaced points.

13. In a loom having alay and a pair of picker sticks, the combination of a pair of sides, a breast beam connecting the upper parts of the sides, front and back girts connecting the sides near the bottoms thereof, girt means connecting the front and back girts between the sides, a crank shaft mounted at its ends for rotation in bearings on the sides and having a crank at each end lying inward from and adjacent to one of said bearings, crank arms mounted on the cranks for connecting the cranks to the lay,-a cam shaft mounted at its ends for rotation in bearings on the sides, the cam shaft lying beneath the crank shaft, a pick cam at each end of the cam shaft and beneath one of the cranks, a pick shaft mounted on each side and having an arm connectable to a picker stick and a pick. ball resting on the adjacent cam, a spreader connecting the sides and lying between the shafts, the spreader having offset parts at each end lying out of the paths of movement of the pick bali and the crank and connected to the adjacent side at spaced points, means connecting the spreader and the girt means connecting the front and back girts, and at least one bearing for the cam shaft carried by the connecting means between the spreader and the girt means connecting the front and back girts.

14. In'a loom having a lay and a pair of picker sticks, the combination of a pair of sides, a breast beam connecting the upper parts of the sides, front and back girts connecting the sides near the bottoms thereof, at least one middle girt connecting the front and back girts, a crank shaft mounted at its ends for rotation in bearings on the sides and having a crank at each end lying inward from and adjacent to onelof said bearings, crank arms mounted on the cranks for con- Anecting the cranks to the lay, a cam shaft mounted at its ends for rotation in bearings on the sides, the cam shaft lying beneath the crank shaft, a pick cam at each end of the cam shaft and beneath one of the cranks, a pick shaft mounted on each side and'having an arm connectable to a picker stick, and a pick ball resting on the adjacent cam, a spreader connecting the sides and lying between the crank and cam shafts, and connecting means between the spreader and the middle girt.

15. In a loom having a lay and a pair of picker sticks, the combination of a pair of sides, a breast beam connecting the upper parts of the sides, front and back girts connecting the sides near the bottoms thereof, at least one middle girt connecting the front and back girts, a crank shaft mounted at its ends for rotation in bearings on the sides and having a crank at each end lying inward from and adjacent to one of said bearings, crank arms mounted on the cranks for connecting the cranks to the lay, a cam shaft mounted at its ends for rotation in bearings on the sides, the cam shaft lying beneath the crank shaft, a pick cam at each end of the cam shaft and beneath one of the cranks, a pick shaft mounted on each side and having an arm connectable to a picker stick, and a pick ball resting on the adjacent cam, a spreader connecting the sides and lying between the crank and cam shafts, connecting means between the spreader and the middle girt, and a bearing for the cam shaft carried by said last named connecting means.

JOHN O. HUNT. 

